On July 14, 2008, the Federal Court of Canada announced the latest decision in the case of Alison Bodine, an anti-war activist fighting a 2-year ban from Canada. Alison, a US citizen and the co-chair of Vancouver anti-war coalition Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO), was politically targeted and banned from Canada last fall. On June 12, 2008 Alison took her case to the Federal Court of Canada in a judicial review and challenge of the ban.

Unfortunately, the Federal Court decision was to uphold the two-year ban from Canada against Alison. In our opinion, this is a further attempt to deny justice in this case with the legal block of maintaining the original decision to ban Alison from Canada.

During these 8 months of the ban so far, Alison has been in the United States and has met with many anti-war activists and organizers, gathering support for her case - from organizers in International ANSWER antiwar coalition to CODE Pink Women for Peace. In Vancouver, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) has continued to campaign for more public support for her case and political pressure on the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with the support of dozens of organizations, MPs, and other prominent individuals.

Despite the Federal Court decision, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee will continue to fight to have the 2-year ban lifted. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, still has the power to lift the ban against Alison at any time and the “Alison Bodine Lift the 2-year Ban 10 000 Petition Drive” will continue in order to put pressure on her. At this point we have already reached more than 3,600 signatures!

In the upcoming ABDC meeting we will discuss and plan our strategies and actions for this next phase in fighting the unjust 2-year ban. ABDC calls on all social justice and anti-war activists committed to defending the human and democratic rights of immigrants, refugees, and non-status people to join in this struggle!

On Thursday June 12, 2008 at 8:45am, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) and supporters of Alison’s case held a defence rally of over 30 people outside the Federal Court of Canada building in Downtown Vancouver. Why? Because minutes later those same supporters would fill a Federal courtroom upstairs to show their support during the next legal step in this case: the Judicial Review hearing of the unjust 2-year ban against Alison.

Alison Bodine, a US citizen and Co-Chair of Vancouver-based antiwar coalition Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) is currently fighting a 2-year ban from Canada after she was politically targeted by the Canada Border Services Agency in September 2007. Alison and the ABDC received notice 2 months ago that she was granted a judicial review of her case by the Federal Court of Canada. This was a partial victory for Alison’s case and chance to set a legal and political precedent in the defence of antiwar activists, non-residents and non-status people who are politically targeted by the government of Canada.

With the news of the upcoming hearing, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee pushed to collect more signatures on the petition demanding “Lift the 2 year Ban on Alison Bodine”. This drive resulted in the collection of over 3,600 signatures on the petition and even more people who know about this attack on Alison and all of our human and democratic rights.

On the morning of the hearing, supporters gathered in front of the Federal Court of Canada building, catching the attention of passers-by with bright ABDC signs and banners. As Alison can not even come up to Canada to attend her own hearing, she spoke to the crowd by way of speakerphone. Alison spoke of how attaining this hearing was a result of the organizing and pressure that the ABDC has kept behind the case during these months. Alison’s lawyer also addressed the crowd before everyone filed into the building for the hearing.

During the 2 hour hearing, Alison’s lawyer argued against the charge of “misrepresentation” made against Alison and the unjust decision to ban Alison made by the Immigration & Refugee Board of Canada. The federal judge gave no decision at the end of the hearing and the crowd of supporters gathered again outside the building. The ABDC resolved to continue organizing and mobilizing on the political front to get even more support letters and petition signatures to continue to keep pressure on until the decision is released. If the judge decides in favour of Alison, the 2-year ban would be overturned and the case returns to the Immigration & Refugee Board of Canada for another tribunal and new admissibility hearing.

While pursuing all possible legal avenues to fight for this case, the ABDC will continue to put direct pressure on the Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley, who has the power to intervene and lift the unjust ban at any time. The Alison Bodine Defence campaign will continue through petition drives and continuing to get support from MP’s, unions, organizations and individuals in defence of the democratic and human rights of Alison and all social justice activists, non-residents and non-status people in Canada. Join us for the next meeting June 23 to strategize and organize this defence!

Alison Bodine has been granted a judicial review by the Federal Courtof Canada, the hearing date has been set for June 12, 2008, when her lawyer will present our case to have the 2-year ban against her lifted. This is a partial victory for the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) that has been fighting for justice since Alison was arrested in the fall of 2007.

The campaign to have the 2-year ban against Alison lifted has run along two paths. The political side that has been fighting to put pressure on Immigration Minister Diane Finley to lift the ban, and the legal side fighting to have the case heard in front of the Federal Court. This decision is a partial victory for the legal campaign, but also the beginning of a new drive for more signatures. In getting the support of every person in Canada who believes in the human and democratic rights for all people, including people without residence or status, we can win against this injustice!

Following Alison's ban from Canada on November 17, 2007, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) launched a broad campaign for 10,000 signatures on a petition demanding "Lift the 2-year Ban!" This campaign has collected over 2,000 signatures, adding to the letters and signatures collected in the months when ABDC was fighting to have the charges dropped against Alison Bodine.The campaign has received wide-spread support, from Canada-wide organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Students, alongside NDP MP's and MLA's, and groups from the United States like International A.N.S.W.E.R., the Green Party-USA and more.

On Saturday, November 17, 2007, anti-war and social justice activist Alison Bodine was forced to leave Canada under the exclusion order and 2-year ban from Canada issued by the Immigration & Refugee Board ofCanada (IRB). In September 2007, Alison was targeted and harassed as a political activist after Canada Border Services agents found anti-war and social justice materials in her car. The political targeting continued when she attempted to exit Canada on September 13th and was arrested by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Currently Alison Bodine is co-chair, executive committee member and spokesperson of Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) in Vancouver, BC. Her hearing on the false and unjust charge of 'misrepresentation' took place on October 11th. On October 31st, the decision was released, ordering her to leave Canada by November 17th and imposing the 2-year ban from the country.

With renewed energy to continue this battle for human and democratic rights, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee will continue to take this campaign everywhere possible. Join the 10,000 signatures campaign to lift the 2-year ban and reverse this injustice against antiwar activists and all people in Canada!

All social justice loving people are called to join us for the next organizing and planning meeting of the Alison Bodine Defence Campaign:

Monday May 9thJoe's Cafe1150 Commercial Drive (@ William St.)7:00pm

-----------------------------------NOVEMBER 17th, 2007The ban from Canada of antiwar activist Alison Bodine begins, over 70 supporters join her to see her across the border in a show of solidarity.

CANADA DENIES ENTRY TO US PEACE ACTIVISTS:

Stop The Deportation of US War Resister:

--ROBIN LONG--Update from Resisters.ca: "U.S. war resister Robin Long was released Wednesday, October 3 after a hearing at the Vancouver offices of Immigration Canada...
He still faces a pre-removal risk assessment which could lead to deportation at a later time so the fight is not over yet."
More Information:http://www.resisters.ca

OCT 22 DEPORTATION OF LAIBAR SINGH STOPPED

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers threatened to deport Mr. Laibar Singh on Monday October 22nd. Mr Singh is awaiting a November decision on his humanitarian and compassionate claim for refugee status. On the morning of Friday October 19, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated they would not deport Mr. Singh on his scheduled date of October 22nd.